Sorry  to make you panic! I thought it was firefox because it was after the latest upgrade that things went wrong.  Turns out, I haven't learnt that pending updates are the cause, even though it happens on a regular basis! lmao!

You are right that it isn't Firefox causing the problem.  Sheepish me realised I had a Windows Update pending, and it had been sitting there for 3 days! LOL.

I have Vista, and have noticed that whenever there are updates pending, espeically for more than a couple of days, my computer gets stroppy!  Firefox will crash, my games won't even load and my email won't bother going online to retrieve my mail.

After writing this post, I rebooted and installed the updates.  Not a problem since, and it found msn again.  Now all I have to worry about is where the heck my creative writing folder went to, but I suspect our 2 year old deleted that one for me! LOL

I used to have Norton's on my desktop computer, but found that it just sat there and did nothing.  I have the full version of AVG, which argues with Windows Defender over who is the better protector! lmao!  I'm not kidding either, I have to give permission to both before I modify any of my computer settings!

So, being in IT would mean you would know how to teach Vista to behave, so what's the secret because if I lose one more thing I have slaved over, this computer will become an international flyer! LOL.

And the problem with msn was that with the pending updates, and all the other stuff open (especially the google side bar which i love),  it was just way too much excitement!  Either that, or a hint I'd already spent too much time chatting.  After a reboot, it worked just fine.

With links, I always open a new window and manually type the link in.  I use the AVG search bar, and it has not allowed me onto a malicious site yet.  I like the warning level system which helps me decide if i want to take the risk or not, and it also warns of inappropriate content too.  I've been caught before when using Norton's, so extra careful now.  Thankfully, all I lost was games files, which was odd.

And here comes the next update.  I'll install it in the morning, so I can finish my fun first. LOL. 

Thanks for your time Brent, it is greatly appreciated.  My dinosaur computer tech husband has kind of had to admit defeat when it comes to my computer! lmao!

PMSL - Brent's reply to "How do I make vista work?" - "GET RID OF IT!" Most people in IT hate vista. It was released way too early and has a lot of bugs that need to be fixed. They brought out a new windows operating system called 7 or something like that - It's basically vista but with 9/10ths of the bugs fixed.

LMAO!  I'm actually finding Vista is brilliant!  My computer is faster than I am used to, and I have better security control which frustrates the girls, because they can't delete anything now!

Besides, it came with the computer, and if I remove it, I void the 2 year warranty.

 I am currently running windows 7, it is still buggy and the drivers dont all work yet so dont try and upgrade to fix your problems yet.

I didnt have any problems with vista but cause i had a oem version of it and then got a new computer, i couldent install it on here so i got free windows 7.

If you are having problems with firefox there are other internet browsers like google chrome and oprah I use chrome but with windows 7 I have problems, but i have problems with all of them so im just learning to live with it till its fixed :)

Gotta love computers :)

LOL Firefox isn't the problem after all, though Internet Explorer won't even open!  Just as well I don't use it all that much!

I have heard about the huge problems with the latest Windows operating system, which is why I'm staying with Vista.

If my computer had any more security on it, they would be using it as a maximum security prison! LOL.

I'm covered by AVG (2 year license) and Windows Defender, then there is the firewall from our internet service provider to boot, so not much is going to get through.

I have a full system scan by AVG every 3 days and a partial by WD every day,  and nothing has ever been found yet...though I object to AVG saying that my minti cookies are potentially dangerous! Easy to ignore them though,because they are there to remember my passwords, and I clear them regularly enough.

I appreciate all the info though.  Goes to show that there are computer smart people out there who will take the time to help others.  I'm sure that others will now be rushing around to see what's what on their computers too! LOL.  Nothing like a good reminder about computer security every now and then!

While frustrating, I am learning more and more about my computer and what it does and doesn't like.  I now have to bite the bullet and allow updates as that is the problem, not the new Firefox.  Should have twigged, because it happened with the last lot too.

I gave up trying to upload photos.  I do it through my site now and then transfer them across, or they come through with my blog feed.  So much quicker and works 90% of the time lol

Yes, it is frustrating.  Everything is all fixed now though, thanks to me deciding to allow Windows to install its pending updates!

So, Firefox isn't the problem, it is Windows Defender, which is part of the Vista operating system.  Dilemna now is turning updates off and risking a virus or worse!

if you already have av protection on you pc you can turn of windows defender and automatic update...the windows defender that is a part of the vista OS most likely interferring with you AV...if you turn of automatic updates and all, you are no more at risk than you are with it on...microsoft brainwashing us into believing it will happen...LOL! 

This may make no sense what I just wrote...lol!  This is a self-decifer thing

LMAO!  You make perfect sense!  Ditch WD! 

The problems only occur if I don't allow the updates, and I can't actually turn them off.  Won't let me.  I have the option to assign a day and time for them to download and install, or I can just leave them to self install.  I went for the former because I would install one update, and immediately, there would be another 10 waiting! LOL.

Got one waiting now, but it can just wait!   Ok, just changed it so it is allowed to download, but must await my ok to install, and I will see if that makes a difference!

My husband got them turned off for me and I am using vista...the updtes were really interfering with the operations of the computer...I will get him to tell me how he did it and pass it on to you if you want?

I found it, finally! LOL.  Never really saw it before becuase I don't read red warnings, stay clear of those! lmao!